Later, when alliance with other political and social reform movements was made necessary to further the goals of the movement, there was Jane Addams. The argument changed to one of the American woman needing the vote in order to better the daily lives of their families, their friends, and their society. But the goal was always the same: equality for men and women. Equality eventually symbolized by the right to vote. The early women's movement was dominated by an uncompromising attitude of right versus wrong.
Friedan, Hanisch and Steinem all wrote to convey that the only way to overcome the injustices of inequality for women was to unite as a community- as a whole. Each source invokes a similar image of encouragement and struggle. Reading through the writings and the hardships the Women’s Movement faced has allured an overall message of goals and clear-cut ways to achieve them. The events that took place during the 1960s Women movement has allowed for women to achieve political, social and economic rights. The implicit idea was to improve the quality of life for women.
In the play Othello by William Shakespeare the role Desdemona plays has been greatly argued. Several critics say that Desdemona is a pawn, that she is submissive and may even be responsible for her own death. However; even if Desdemona appears to be fragile at the end of the play when Othello becomes aggressive and later when he kills her, Desdemona proves that she is much smarter, stronger, and even has a certain power over those who around her, than the women in the time period that Shakespeare wrote Othello. With further investigation of Desdemona’s character considering the role of women in the Renaissance age in England, Desdemona more than surpasses the expectation and the authority that women were allowed at that time. Women in the renaissance era did not have much power in society, their gender roles were very “clearly defined with men reigning superior over women” (“The Life and Roles of Elizabethan Era Women”).
Since the writing conditions for women in Woolf’s time were very difficult, feminist literary criticism began with various critiques of the patriarchal culture. Though those in front might fall, those behind should take up their positions. She suggests again and again in A Room of One’s Own that in a hundred years’ time women’s writing situation will be much improved (48, 99, 117). We never can tell how close we are, but we may succeed with another blow. Woolf’s concerns and struggles with feminine writing are dominant in her works, which deal with obstacles and prejudices that have hindered women
The Slipping Slope of Sovereignty Before the Middle Ages, women were societally submissive to male supremacy. As the Middle Ages progressed, one develops a sense that women sought a change in societal order. Upset that they are not able to share their beliefs due to their position, women began to become more vocal. In comparing two great poets Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare, one sees a connection in their most well known works. Chaucer's view on women, demonstrated by the “Wife of Bath’s Tale” and the Wife’s belief that all women desire sovereignty, is welcomed by William Shakespeare but not achievable by Hamlet’s female protagonists, Gertrude and Ophelia.
A woman of that time period was very objectified and used, basically women weren't real people. In The Elizabethans by A.N Wilson, Wilson states “ The Elizabethan woman was not necessarily ... ... middle of paper ... ...ad of his time. He captured the stereotypical women of his time , while breaking the mold and working outside of the box to create women who were normal and accepted by the public but at the same time completely non traditional. In each of his plays the women are the same, with their own little quirks, but overall they all portray a woman that isn't totally fitting to the elizabethan stereotype. Shakespeare was clearly way ahead of his time as a writer.
The Value of Women in Society It is commonly shown that women, as a whole, often feel limited and confined to a certain gender role that is inferior to the male. In a society that values the patriarch, there has been clear evidence of social pressures that shape what women view as an obtainable goal or appropriate behavior. In “Shakespeare’s Sister,” Virginia Woolf expresses her frustration with the belief that women in the 16th century would have been more represented in literature if given the same opportunity to express their talents as their male counterpart. Expressed through a feminist viewpoint, “Shakespeare’s Sister” evokes the question that if women were in fact provided the same opportunity in the world of literature as men, would
Hermia ... ... middle of paper ... ... to tell whether Shakespeare is promoting the objectification of women, or speaking out against it. However, even with the few moments of ambiguity, Shakespeare appears to be saying that women in his society have come a long ways since the time his play was set in. Queen Elizabeth is proof positive enough that women can be strong and need not be use as objects for men’s fancies. Shakespeare has proven himself as a progressive person throughout his plays and sonnets. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is another one of Shakespeare’s works that quietly calls for change.
I think that society has just made me feel like a “snitch” if I jump into quickly or that I feel “entitled” if I am standing up for myself. Overcoming these obstacles are just a matter of being exposed. If I am able to jump into a situation or stand up for my values when presented, I feel the next time I am faced with a challenge it will go smoother. I also would like to note that these issues do not arise for me very often. I am not sure if I am not aware, or if my life is just so routine that there is no room for these situations.
Beauty is seen as something that is “essential to women’s character and concerns” (a woman 's beauty puts down or power source). She writes that “beauty: is the only form of power that most women are encouraged to seek”. As for Woolf, she talks about a speculative latitude, and how Shakespeare’s sister lives on through all women. For example, we as a woman has been victims of discrimination because man believes we are weak. She added that these achievements would have been impossible for a woman in Shakespeare’s time.